DAVAO CITY -- Army troops from the 16th Infantry Battalion recovered an arms cache and assorted war matériel in Sitio Kialaw, Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District, this city.
Civil Military Operations Officer, 1Lt.Edelyn Glarian, on Sunday said the arms cache and war matériel were tipped off by three members of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 1 who surrendered to the government due to economic hardship.
Glarian said the three surrenderers said the area where the arms cache and war matériel were buried prompting the troops to immediately conduct “Paghalugad” operations Thursday and Friday.
It resulted in the recovery of one .22-caliber sniper rifle attached with bipod, scope, and silencer; one anti-tank landmine; one anti-personnel landmine; two blasting caps; 100- meter electrical wire for an improvised explosive device; and two civilian backpacks with assorted personal belongings.
Following the operation, Glarian said, the troops conducted clearing operations in the same area resulting in the recovery of one .30-caliber M1 Springfield (Garand) rifle.
Lt. Col. Rey Pasco, commanding officer of 16IB, lauded the troops for their shared effort and dedication carry the unit's mission for peace and development in the area.
He also appreciated the former rebels for giving their trust to the Maglilingkod Battalion.
"The recovery of assorted war materiel’s is a result of the unit's right mix of TRIAD operations coupled with support from the Local Government Units, the police, and the peace-loving communities that encourage members of the armed group to return to the folds of the law," he said. (PNA)
